Choosing a major can feel like a make-or-break decision — but it doesn’t have to be. In this episode of Just Admit It!, IvyWise counselor Alecia and host Tasha explain why being undecided is common, how to explore academic interests without getting overwhelmed, and what “major selection” really means on a college application.
Key Takeaways
- It’s completely normal to be undecided — many students refine or change their interests once they’re in college.
- Start with what you enjoy (favorite subjects, topics, projects) and dig into the “why” to uncover real academic interests.
- Use tools like college major lists and interest questionnaires to discover options you may not know exist.
- Application rules vary by school: Some admit by major/school, while others allow undeclared or exploratory programs.
- Avoid “gaming” the system with a random niche major — authentic interest and evidence of engagement matter more.
Podcast Transcript
Tasha:
Hi there. Welcome to semester 12, episode 8 of the IvyWise Just Admit It! podcast, where former deans and directors of admission give expert insight into the complex college admissions landscape.
I’m Tasha, your host. I’m an admissions counselor at IvyWise, a former international admissions officer at USC and former assistant director of international admissions at Boston University.
This season on the show: FAQs and college admissions. We’ll spend each episode focused on a frequently asked question, breaking it down and answering it thoroughly. Today’s episode: What if I don’t know what to major in?
To help me answer this question is my colleague, Alecia. Hi, Alecia. Could you please introduce yourself for our listeners? I know you’re back on this season, but just in case folks didn’t hear you earlier.
Alecia:
Yes, of course. Hi, everyone. I’m Alecia. I’m a counselor with IvyWise and a former assistant director of undergraduate admissions at Duke University, as well as a former college access counselor.
I’m so excited to be here today.
Tasha:
Great. We’re so excited to have you. As I said, today’s FAQ is: What if I don’t know what to major in? So, this is a question that isn’t exclusive to college admissions. This comes up for students once they’re actually in college. It comes up for students who might be thinking about changing majors while they’re in college.
It makes perfect sense that a student in high school may be asking this question, because they haven’t even arrived there yet. Let’s answer it first and then break it down. If you had to respond with one simple statement: What if I don’t know what to major in? Alecia, what would you say?
Alecia:
My response would be: That’s totally fine.
Tasha:
Yeah, I think I would say it’s okay. Depending on how distraught or worried a student might be when asking, it might also just be a casual question. But the crux of it is that it’s fine. It’s okay. It’s not the end of the world — nor is it close to the end of the world.
But it does mean that the way you build your profile or approach your application might look a little different from a student who’s very decided. At the core of not knowing what you want to major in is often not knowing what you’re interested in or how your interests might translate into an academic or professional focus.
So, if a student doesn’t know yet, how can they start exploring their interests so that — maybe not during applications, but especially once they’re in college — they can pinpoint what they like and what they might want to major in?
Alecia:
I usually start with students who are unsure of what they like by talking about their favorite subject. That’s the very beginning of the process: “Okay, I like math.” Great — tell me more. What do you like about math? Which parts have you enjoyed? From there, we can have deeper conversations about what they enjoy, what they’re passionate about, and what they want to explore further.
And every time I meet with students, I ask about any new discoveries they’ve made. Sometimes they say, “I have nothing to report — school is just a grind. I’m doing it, and it’s really hard.” And I’m like, that’s fine.
Other times they’ll tell me, “Oh, I wrote this paper about this subject,” or “I’m taking a new class this semester and it really sparked my interest in history,” or whatever that might be. The role of the college counselor is to create space for students to think through what they might want to do. We can serve as a springboard for ideas — helping you reflect on what you like, what you don’t like, and why — and get closer to answering that question.
So that’s where we usually start. From there, based on what students enjoy and what they’re good at, we look at that intersection and consider whether there’s an interest — or a handful of interests — they can explore more deeply.
We also help students build a profile around those interests in a bunch of different ways, which I’m sure we’ll get into. And for students who feel like, “I don’t actually know what I like at all — I don’t know anything about what I like,” that’s a very common experience. So don’t worry if that’s you — it’s normal not to know this at any point in time.
There are some great websites you can use, like the Interest Profiler. I’ve also used BigFuture.org, which is the College Board’s site. They have questionnaires you can fill out that can help you identify what you like and what you might want to study.
Tasha:
That’s great. I love using resources because we don’t have to have it all figured out, and there’s a lot out there to help generate ideas.
So, a related question is: We’re thinking about students who may not know what their interests are or might really be at a loss. But there might also be a student who knows exactly what their favorite academic subject is and says, “I don’t want to study that.” Or they might be interested in math or be doing well in their senior-year economics class, but they don’t want to go into business or a directly related field. And sometimes students don’t even know what kinds of majors are out there in the first place because they don’t always map directly from the high school core classes you have.
So, how do you recommend that students research the kinds of majors out there without getting totally overwhelmed? And of course, majors vary across different colleges and universities.
Alecia:
Yeah, I definitely find that to be true. It often depends on who students are surrounded by — peers, friends, parents or other family members, and their community — and what people around them are doing. That becomes what they see as the available options, because looking beyond that can feel overwhelming, or it’s simply not something we think to do at first.
I see a lot of students say, “Oh, I want to do business,” or “I want to do medicine,” and then add, “Well, I don’t really like chemistry.” And I’m like: it’s going to be hard to go into medicine if you don’t like chemistry. A helpful starting point is to look at colleges’ websites and see what majors are available.
I usually recommend students start with their local public university, because those schools are large and tend to have many major options, so you get a broad view. I also recommend looking at the University of Michigan’s majors list, because they have so many, including some unique ones, and it gets students thinking about what’s out there.
For example: “Oh, I didn’t realize there was a difference between neuroscience, cognitive science, and psychology.” Okay — yes, there is. So, let’s look into them, unpack them, and better understand which one you’re actually interested in. Sometimes that process also helps students develop a more niche academic interest because they’ve explored the options and understand the distinctions. They might realize, “I say I want to study environmental science, but I’m actually more interested in advocacy and policy than in the science side.” That kind of clarity often comes from exploring majors in greater depth.
Tasha:
That’s great advice about the University of Michigan. I’ll keep that in mind as a place to start if you really want to see the breadth of how many different majors are out there. So, thank you, Alecia.
Alright, so we started off by answering the question, then thinking about interests and majors, so students can eventually answer what they want to major in. But now I want to go back to the “what if I don’t know,” right? Because you may use some of these resources and apply some of these tips, but you may not get any closer necessarily within junior year or senior fall, when you’re applying to college. And as Alecia said, it’s completely normal to be undecided and not be sure.
So, let’s talk about a student who continues not to know: How can students apply to college without a major? What are the different options? How does that work at different kinds of universities? Do some universities require a major declaration on the application? Let’s try to break that down.
Alecia:
So, the first question: Can you apply to college without a major? This is nuanced, because it depends on the individual institution.
Unfortunately, you need to do your own research on each school you’re applying to —or, better yet, consult your school counselor, your IvyWise counselor, or another college counselor who understands how each institution handles majors on the application.
‘Cause there are some schools where, yeah, it’s totally fine for you to apply and list interests, and you’re not required to pursue those interests when you arrive. But there are other schools where they really want to know what major you plan to pursue, and they’re admitting you to that major or to that college.
For example, if you apply to Wisconsin and want to study business, you’re applying for direct admission to the business school. Of course, you might not be admitted directly to the business school but still be admitted to Wisconsin — then you’d be pre-business and could reapply.
So, there’s a lot of nuance to navigate. The short answer is both yes and no: You can apply without a major, depending on the school.
Tasha:
Yeah, I’ll chime in. Based on my experience with Boston University and USC, we can create some broad categories, though they’re not foolproof. You still need to check each school or consult someone who can confirm. But in general, large research universities and many public universities — especially those with separate schools and colleges — will require, at minimum, that a student chooses one of those schools or colleges, because you apply to that unit rather than to the university at large.
Your example is great. If a student is applying to the School of Business at Wisconsin, they’re really applying to the School of Business. And then there are a lot of other iterations of how that can go.
Typically, you choose that school or college, and then you either select a major or indicate a major of interest. For example, if you’re applying to a College of Engineering, they’ll want to know whether it’s mechanical, electrical, or chemical engineering, because requirements can differ — especially for technical programs — in terms of testing, math preparation, and other credentials. However, if you’re applying to a College of Arts and Sciences (the liberal arts home at many research institutions), some schools may not require you to declare a major at the application stage.
So, again, it really depends on the institution. The other question I asked was about applying undeclared or undecided.
Alecia:
I remember reading an application about 10 years ago, when I worked at Duke, from a student who applied undecided. What made it compelling was that it felt authentic. Even though he didn’t know exactly what he wanted to study, he could say, “I’m not really sure, but here are the things I like right now, and here are a few directions I might want to explore. I’m just not able to choose one path yet.”
So, you can apply as undecided or undeclared, as long as the school offers that option — and it’s okay to do so. Many schools, especially larger universities, have an undecided or first-year studies program that gives you exposure to different subjects and a more exploratory experience, with support to help you figure out a direction.
That’s a very real option. But there are still nuances: If you’re working with a counselor, they can help you decide what majors (or interests) make the most sense to list based on what’s in your profile.
It might make sense for one student to list undecided, and for another student it might not. That’s why it’s always important to work with a college counselor to get the best advice and make the best decision for your situation.
Tasha:
Yeah, and that’s a really great segue into my next question.
Again, we’ve said it’s okay — it’s fine. But a lot of students might say, “Okay, but is it really okay to apply undecided? Does it look bad? Does it make it look like I don’t know what I’m doing?” Or, “I’m not going to make a decision,” or “I’m not as strong of a student.” Those are some pretty typical doubts students have, or they feel pressured that they have to choose something.
So, like you said, it’s going to depend on the student. What are some of the factors you consider? And can we talk about building a pointy, focused profile — and what that might look like for an undecided student?
Alecia:
Yes. Generally speaking, I always try to help students identify a major they’ll list far in advance of the time they’re actually submitting their application. So, it’s not like we’re sitting there on November 1st scrolling through the list and saying, “I don’t know — what should you list?” We’ve usually been talking about it for a year, or even longer, depending on the student — but at least a year.
We’re working to build a profile around an interest that’s authentic to the student — what they like doing and what they think they might want to pursue in the future. So, it’s very rare, when I’m working with a student that they apply as undecided because we’ve worked through the process of identifying a primary interest. They may also have other interests, and if the application allows, we might indicate those as secondary.
If you’re listening to this podcast close to its release date, you still have time to decide. And so, I would go ahead and start exploring right now using some of the tools we’ve shared, and looking at college websites to see what aligns. Begin to think about what that might look like for you, so you can be in a good position to indicate your interests. And then, even this summer, begin building a little bit of a profile around that.
There’s still time to add to your profile between now and November. We have a handful of months, and a lot can be accomplished to help you indicate an interest that fits. I’m not sure I answered every part of the question, but given where most students are in the process, you should still have plenty of time.
Now, if you’re listening on October 31st and still deciding whether to list undecided: If you truly are undecided and your profile feels a bit all over the place in terms of interests, that may be the best choice. If you can’t realistically decide, or your application isn’t reflecting a specific interest, it may make more sense to indicate undecided.
Another case is when you feel confident about a specific field, but you don’t think your application is strong enough for direct admission to that specific school. For example, you might really want to do business, but think, “I don’t have a strong chance of getting into the business school right now based on my overall profile. I’d still love to be at this university no matter what, and I’ll try for business later. If I don’t get in, I’ll choose a different major.” That’s okay. In that situation, it might make more sense to apply as undecided, complete the prerequisite coursework, and see whether switching into the program is feasible — rather than applying directly to the school from the start.
Tasha:
Yes, and I would say that what you said about that being a good option for a student who knows there’s a chance they won’t eventually be able to switch over to the other major, especially with business majors, is spot on. It can be very, very competitive. That could be a good choice if their number one priority is attending the university rather than getting into that specific major.
Another related question that comes up a lot is this: If a student doesn’t have a clear major pathway but still has time to develop their profile, they may think, “Let me choose one of the smallest or least popular majors. Maybe I’ll have a higher chance of being admitted because universities are trying to keep religion, classics, or English majors alive.”
What would you say to a student about that? Is it a myth, or is it real? Should students try to be strategic with typically small majors, or is it more complicated than that?
Alecia:
Those are the same questions an admissions officer asks while reading an application: “Is this real? Let’s find out.” They’ll look for how much engagement you’ve shown with that interest, and for how long. If the interest just appeared — say you suddenly decide, “I really want to study art history” — and there isn’t evidence through extracurriculars, summer experiences, or academics at school (for example, your school offers art history and you didn’t take it), that can be a red flag.
But if you can authentically — and with integrity — explain that this is your real interest through your supplemental essays, then you should pursue it. What’s not a good strategy is picking a less popular major and trying to align yourself with it just to seem more “admissible.” Colleges can usually see through that, and it’s not a good use of your time.
Build around the real interest you have — that’s where your application will shine, because it’s true to you and what you actually want. That doesn’t mean counselors tell every student to pick one of the five most popular majors and say, “Well, you should do economics.” A lot of students want to do economics. Instead, we ask, “What specific facets or niche areas within economics are you actually interested in?” That way, within a popular major, we can identify something unique you care about, so your application still stands out.
Even in highly selective pools, we have students choosing top majors and getting into those schools because they’ve developed a niche profile within that interest. So, again: Choosing a less popular major just as a strategy isn’t a good approach, because it isn’t authentic.
Tasha:
Yes, and in the same way that, as a rule, flagship or large research universities do have the schools and colleges you’re applying to, liberal arts colleges just exist on their own, or the Ivies’ undergraduate colleges exist on their own. You’re not necessarily applying to individual schools. So that’s where you will be indicating or officially selecting a major.
But especially for majors that are interdisciplinary or have a lot of overlap — say anthropology, sociology, or religion — students are more likely to change their minds among those related majors as they take introductory courses and seminars.
I don’t think those majors would make or break an admissions decision, because majors aren’t set in stone — especially in areas that are highly transferable within the humanities and social sciences. That said, you should be careful if that interest isn’t clear in your application, because it can become obvious when a choice is purely strategic at liberal arts colleges, too.
We’ve already talked about whether there are “better” majors than others. It really comes down to each individual student and what’s reflected in their application. But let’s talk about indecision a bit further: What if a student thinks they know what they want to major in, but they’re scared about changing their mind and feel stuck choosing from the dropdown list?
It can feel like a huge decision in the moment. What would you say to them?
Alecia:
I’d tell them to pick what best aligns with what they think they like right now. Many times, students select something and later end up changing their minds.
And that’s very normal. Many colleges allow you to transfer between schools within the university. There’s a process, and sometimes it isn’t easy, but it’s often possible. So, if you enter one program and realize it isn’t what you expected, don’t panic — you may be able to transfer to a different school or college within your university.
And if you end up at a college where you discover you really want to study something else and that major isn’t offered at the school you’re at, that’s when you go through the transfer admissions process. And so, we work with students to transfer to other colleges as well, and every year that happens.
It’s also completely normal to shift your interests. Try not to stress too much. When you’re choosing right now, focus on what genuinely appeals to you today.
I worked with a student who worried, “What if I don’t like this in three years?” and got stuck there. And I totally understand that. But we can’t predict what we’ll be doing in three years, where we’ll be, or what we might like then.
And hopefully you’ll develop new interests — that’s part of the point of college: to expose you to subject areas you’ve never seen before. So, it’s okay not to be 100% sure right now; just be as confident as you can. That’s what you’ll use to choose from the list on your applications — and later, you might change your mind.
Tasha:
Yeah, and I think that actually wraps up this episode. We just were able to answer the last couple of questions in one, but I think the major takeaway is to do some exploration to identify your interests. To use resources out there to connect how those interests might translate to different kinds of majors at different kinds of colleges. To do your research to understand the different rules or requirements at different kinds of colleges and universities in terms of declaring a major or being able to apply undecided, but still, with some time, try to build your profile so that you are able to make a selection if you can. And ultimately, the most important consideration is to apply to the major that is most aligned with your interests and is reflected through your profile on your college application.
So, thanks again so much, Alecia, for joining us on your second appearance this season on the Just Admit It! podcast.
Alecia:
Thank you for having me.
Tasha:
That just about wraps up this episode of the Just Admit It! podcast.
If you have any suggestions about what we should be covering, please email us at [email protected]. In the meantime, you can catch up on all our previous episodes by visiting our podcast page and be sure to bookmark our KnowledgeBase for additional help with navigating the complex and competitive admissions process.
At IvyWise, we bring together a team of former deans and directors of admission at top universities to give students, parents, and fellow educators the most up-to-date, higher ed news and practical admissions advice. Our experts help students navigate everything from college applications and K-8 planning to graduate school admissions and standardized testing.
Visit IvyWise.com today to embark on your journey to your best-fit schools with the world’s leading educational consultancy. From IvyWise, I’m your host, Tasha, and this has been Just Admit It! See you next time.
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Editor’s Note: This transcript has been cleaned up and edited for clarity and readability.
